Reconfiguring the user: Using rapid application development

Users or consumers have become increasingly prominent in sociological work on technology - as in the social sciences generally. This paper takes up an d extends arguments developed by Steve Woolgar about how producers of techn ology 'configure the user'. Rapid Application Development (RAD) is a recent technology (or methodology) for computer system development which emphasiz es extensive user involvement throughout the development process. Drawing o n ethnographic research of RAD, the paper develops four arguments. First, t hat decoding (by users) as well as encoding (by producers) is important for understanding technology production. Second, that designers configure user s but they, in turn, are configured both from within their own organization s, and by users. Third, that the boundary between user and designer is flui d and, indeed, configured. Finally, it develops the case for an extended ac tor-network approach which encompasses users or consumption.